Ivan Touko was born and raised in Cameroon and moved to Edmonton, Alberta, in 2012. Ivan is an avid Community Builder, Social Innovator, and Entrepreneur who uses the power of community, dance, and culture to bring together people from all walks of life. With over six years of combined experience working in project management, recruitment, sustainability, and community development for the University of Alberta, Ribbon Rouge Foundation, and other significant organizations both in the non-profit and for-profit sectors, Ivan truly knows what it takes to build bridges and co-create with vibrant and resilient communities intentionally.
Ivan is a recipient of Alberta’s Top 30 under 30 award and has spoken at prestigious events such as TEDx UAlberta, Creative Mornings, the Student Sustainability Summit, and the PACE Resiliency Panel. Ivan has also landed coverage in online prints and broadcast outlets, including Radio Canada (CBC), the Edmonton Journal, Narcity Calgary, The Gateway, ACGC’s blog, and Prokonnect. In addition to his extensive work in the community, Ivan regularly holds fun and entertaining open-level Afro Dance workshops and loves flying his mini-drone around Edmonton (You wouldn’t believe how amazing Edmonton & everything looks from above!).
Ivan is the CEO of La Connexional Inc and holds a Bilingual BSc in Environmental Sciences and Conservation with a Certificate in Sustainability from the University of Alberta/Campus Saint-Jean.
During our discussion, we talked about what it’s like highlighting the Black and Latin American community in Edmonton, the growth of the Pour Me Water Festival, and how society and collaboration can go such a long way.
// LINKS //
La Connexional: https://laconnexional.com/
Pour Me Water Festival: https://laconnexional.com/pmwfest/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivantouko/
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